Lincoln City v West Ham United
Carabao Cup third round, LNER Stadium, Wednesday 27 September 2023, 7.45pm BST
Referee: Josh Smith
Assistant Referees: Edward Smart and Nick Greenhalgh
Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty
Josh Smith will serve as the referee for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fixture between West Ham United and Lincoln City.
Officiating runs in Smith’s family, with his dad and grandfather refereeing in football and rugby league respectively, and Smith’s own journey began in 2006 when, aged 14, he started refereeing in the Peterborough and District Junior Alliance League.
Having been promoted up to the EFL referees list, and then the Select Group 2 List of Referees, Smith was chosen to referee the League Two play-off final between Colchester United and Exeter City in June 2020.
Smith has refereed six Championship matches so far this season and as also in charge of the Carabao Cup second round tie between Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, which Fulham won 6-4 on penalties.
He also took charge of his first Premier League match this past weekend, officiating the 1-1 draw between Luton Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.
Smith will be joined by experienced Premier League assistant referees Edward Smart and Nick Greenhalgh at LNER Stadium. Both worked alongside Smith at Kenilworth Road at the weekend.
Smith has run the line in the English top flight since the 2014/15 campaign, doing so in two Premier League matches so far this season, while Greenhalgh started in the Premier League in the 2019/20 season. He has been an assistant referee in five Premier League games this campaign, including West Ham United’s opener at AFC Bournemouth.
Fourth official duties will be undertaken by Leigh Doughty. Doughty was appointed to the SG2 list ahead of the 2020/21 season and has worked as a referee across the EFL this campaign, including the 2-2 draw between Watford and West Bromwich Albion last week.
West Ham United v Sheffield United
Premier League, London Stadium, Saturday 30 September 2023, 3pm BST
Referee: Graham Scott
Assistant Referees: Timothy Wood & Mark Scholes
Fourth Official: Keith Stroud
VAR: Darren Bond
Assistant VAR: Stuart Burt
Graham Scott will take charge of West Ham United's next Premier League game, when the Irons welcome Sheffield United to London Stadium on Saturday.
The 54-year-old from Oxford has been part of the Select Group of Referees since 2015, having taken up refereeing in the lower leagues in 1997 after his time playing football came to an early end, due to a back injury at 27.
He most recently officiated the Hammers in the Premier League back in December 2021, refereeing the Irons' 0-0 draw at Burnley.
He also took charge of the first game of David Moyes’ second spell in charge of the Irons on New Year’s Day 2020, which ended in a 4-0 Premier League victory over AFC Bournemouth at London Stadium.
So far this campaign Scott has taken charge of two EFL Championship matches, serving as the man in the middle for Leicester City's 2-1 home win over Cardiff City and the Foxes' 2-0 win at Norwich City.
Scott will be assisted by Timothy Wood and Mark Scholes at London Stadium this weekend. Both possess extensive experience in the Premier League and across the EFL, with Wood serving in the English top division since the 2019/20 season and Scholes since the 2008/09 campaign.
Both have run the line at four Premier League matches this season so far, with Scholes part of the officiating team for the Hammers' defeat at Liverpool on Sunday. The duo worked together for Brighton & Hove Albion's 4-1 win over Luton Town, and AFC Bournemouth's home games against Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.
Keith Stroud will undertake fourth official duties on Saturday. The 54-year-old, who served as an assistant referee in Arsenal's FA Cup final win over Southampton at the Millennium Stadium in May 2003, primarily officiates in the EFL and has taken charge of five Championship matches this season, including Ipswich Town's 4-3 win over Blackburn Rovers last weekend.
Finally, Video Assistant Referee responsibilities will be headed up by Darren Bond. Bond also served as VAR in the Hammers' home Premier League match with Manchester City, and refereed Brentford’s 3-0 win at Fulham in August.
